RD Sports Outdoors Fishing Listhttp://www.chron.com/sports/outdoors/collectionRss/RD-Sports-Outdoors-Fishing-List-18520.php
http://www.chron.com/news/article/Saltwater-strategies-Some-ways-to-predict-the-3503539.php
article3503539
Be wary of wind with a westerly angle; the gusts blow side-shore up the coast, hitting the sandbars at odd angles and creating poor fishing conditions. Whipping gusts, regardless of direction, should be viewed with caution - rough water prevails in all but a few leeward coves and protected bayous. Green or sandy-green water is preferable for sport fishing and never a sure thing along the upper coast. A few hours under marginal wind might make a big difference in water clarity, so try to update status before wasting time and gas. If you coincide with a rubble of sandy chops, forget about serious efforts for speckled trout and other green-water species. Visible signs of concentrated baitfish, such as rafts of milling mullet, upgrade any stretch of bay or beachfront. Pay special attention to nervous bait jumping or tight flocks of seagulls hovering. ]]>
Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:18:00 UThttp://www.chron.com/news/article/Saltwater-gear-It-s-all-here-from-lures-to-3503543.php
article3503543
The growing trend in casting rods is to reduce weight while increasing sensitivity with split low-profile synthetic grips. The upper Texas coast has been a stronghold for plug casting tackle for more than 50 years, and the mark of the master "plugger" always has been a fast, compact reel. Offshore fishing soon will warm into summer as schools of "surface fish" such as king mackerel, ling and tarpon, migrate along the Texas coast. A great new reel for light medium Gulf fishing is the Shimano 500 TranX It is a beefed-up casting reel that will spool 275 yards of 65-pound super-braid line and handle up to 25 pounds of drag. Soft plastic lures dominate the Texas tides for speckled trout and redfish. Saltwater Shrimp now comes with a bright chartreuse tail, and the 3-inch scented baits are available in a six-pack for about $6. ]]>
Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:18:00 UThttp://www.chron.com/news/article/Saltwater-hot-spots-Upper-coastal-areas-to-find-3503524.php
article3503524
Reefs in Big Lake and West Cove are excellent for big speckled trout; solid specks can be caught under flocks of seagulls chasing shrimp. The longest Gulf jetties in the state offer exceptional fishing for big speckled trout during late spring. Boaters in the main channel and bay waders behind the pass catch trout, reds and flounder. The 10-fathom curve cuts closer to the coast, allowing easier access to blue water for center-console boats. ]]>
Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:13:00 UThttp://www.chron.com/news/article/Freshwater-strategies-May-can-offer-the-best-of-3503522.php
article3503522
Often, these fish will relocate to edges of fast-growing beds of aquatic vegetation. [...] often these fish will suspend in the water column, 4-6 feet beneath the surface, and fall to crankbaits and swimming baits worked in that zone. During late spring, clouds of threadfin shad move into the shallows to spawn, gravitating to areas with lots of flooded timber, riprap, wooden piers or bulkheading. Anglers can enjoy fast fishing for cats by locating flats holding 3-6 feet of water near bulkheaded shorelines or shorelines sporting lots of piers and other submerged "hard" structure, baiting with whole or cut shad, and fishing on or near bottom. Most "strollers" use a light spinning rig (8- or 10-pound-test line) armed with a lead-head jig (1⁄8- or 1/4-ounce) trimmed with marabou or a soft-plastic grub or minnow body. When they locate a likely "weed bed," they set up upwind side, cast out, let the jig fall until it's just ticking the tops of the submerged vegetation, then let the boat drift with the wind or, more often, use the boat's electric trolling motor to slowly drift-fish over the area. ]]>
Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:11:00 UThttp://www.chron.com/news/article/Freshwater-gadgets-New-products-put-anglers-on-3503527.php
article3503527
Soft-plastic lures imbued with chemical scents meant to trigger feeding responses attract largemouth bass and catfish, sunfish and crappie. Lightweight alloy or composite frames and spools, tight tolerances, and use of high-quality bearings and bushings make some of today's baitcasting and spinning reels far superior in ease-of-use, performance and durability to those built just a few years ago. Units combining sonar and Global Positioning System are almost standard on recreational fishing boats. The units allow anglers to find their way even in fog or at night, locate fish-holding structure in featureless open water and return directly to it in the future. Hummingbird's 700 series; its 798ci HD SI combo unit is state-of-the-art and includes down-imaging as well as side imaging and GPS that can store 2,500 waypoints, 50 routes and 50 tracks. ]]>
Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:12:00 UThttp://www.chron.com/news/article/Freshwater-hot-spots-Houston-anglers-near-five-3503523.php
article3503523
Anglers fishing cut shad on the bottom along the edges of river or creek channels can land their 25-fish limit of blues, with some catching fish weighing 3-10 pounds. The second-largest reservoir wholly in Texas holds good populations of most popular game fish, including largemouth bass and crappie. [...] the top attractions are the white and striped bass that roam the open-water reaches on the southern half of the reservoir and the catfish (blues and flatheads) throughout the lake. The lake holds a tremendous crappie fishery that is at its best during late spring through summer, when "white perch" concentrate around brush piles in 15-30 feet of water and gobble small jigs or live shiners. ]]>
Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:12:00 UThttp://www.chron.com/news/article/Conservation-Helping-preserve-the-state-s-3503532.php
article3503532
For those who want to take an active, hands-on role in helping maintain Texas' inland and marine fisheries, here are five organizations that make major contributions to the conservation of fish, fisheries and fishing: Seven Coves Bass Club has a passion for fishing and a deep sense of responsibility to promote conservation of the state's freshwater fisheries and aquatic habitat. The group has been part of a cooperative effort that created a native plant nursery to serve as stock for restoring native aquatic plant communities in Lake Conroe, the club's "home" water. Members also participate in dozens of other fisheries and aquatic habitat projects on Conroe and other East Texas lakes, including removal of invasive aquatic plants such as giant salvinia, creating artificial fish habitat, working with organizations such as Catch a Special Thrill and Make a Wish Foundation to take ill young people fishing, and sponsoring a bowfishing tournament to remove some large grass carp from Lake Conroe. The organization also has vibrant education, conservation and research programs, which include restoring and enhancing vital components of the bay system such as estuarine vegetation and oyster reefs; fighting invasive species; funding and participating in research and monitoring projects; litter clean-ups and other projects, most of which are accomplished with volunteers. Through its work with government and private landowners, TNC has been instrumental in protecting the incomparable Devils River and helping develop public use plans that will help ensure the Devils remains arguably the state's premier free-flowing stream and an incredible resource for paddlers and anglers. ]]>
Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:17:00 UThttp://www.chron.com/news/article/Boats-It-s-wise-to-leave-no-margin-for-error-3503547.php
article3503547
Neither will a low-profile, tunnel-hulled flats boat designed to skirt the fringes of calf-deep shallows magically become a wave-cutting vee-hull that comfortably counters 3-foot swells. Corrosion-resistant electric trolling motors, powered by 12- or 24-volt systems, are virtually standard on bass boats and bay boats alike. Whether it's clearing barely submerged timber or drifting over an extra-shallow coastal flat, an engine-lifting hydraulic jack plate allows access to otherwise unapproachable areas. Attached to gunwales, these are the signature trademark of avid live bait specialists who commonly fish several baits (and depths) at once. Increasingly popular, the telltale tanks, tubing and regulators of portable O2 systems provide unrivaled life support for bait, be it croakers or shrimp in saltwater or shiner minnows and shad inshore. Tee-tops provide shade, and with tubular "rocket launcher" rod holders above the canvas and locking instrument boxes below, maximize storage space. Via "controlled-depth fishing," manual or electric downriggers let fishermen precisely troll lures and baits in even deep water. ]]>
Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:18:00 UT